Committee of the Whole - December 6, 2021

Please note that all Committee of the Whole decisions are subject to Council approval. The next Council meeting is scheduled for December 13, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. If you have any questions regarding agenda items or decisions made at Committee or Council meetings, please email council@ramara.ca.

Facility Optimization of the Bayshore Village Sewage Works

Sangeeta Chopra, Yaldah Azimi and Nick Leroux of Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) presented the Facility Optimization Final report on the Bayshore Village Sewage Works (BVSW). The report outlined the following findings:

• A review of historical water use and wastewater generation in the Bayshore Village service areas shows that a portion of wastewater originates from Infiltration and Inflow (I&I) with a recommendation to investigate the cause of high (I&I) and invest in efforts to reduce it.
• The lagoons at BVSW are capable of treating all wastewater collected from Bayshore Village based on hydraulics and BOD treatment capacity.
• With the periodic sampling of raw sewage, effluent, surface water and soil in the irrigation fields, surface water sampling for both up and downstream of Wainman's Creek show that the facility has no impact on increasing phosphorous levels in surface waters. The soil samples show an increased level of contaminants during the irrigation season, but the levels do not show increasing trends over the years.
• Capacity expansion for effluent discharge is needed at BVSW and its recommended by OCWA to establish one new spray irrigation field, with I&I reduction, to help manage effluent disposal.
• A weather station is recommended to be installed at the facility to monitor the local wind speed to assist operators in evaluating suitable spray irrigation periods.

Committee approved to investigate a few of OCWA's recommendations: fixing repairs found from the I&I study and installing a weather station and tree plantings on the spray fields.

Draft Water and Wastewater Rate Study

The Draft Water Wastewater Rate Study, completed by Hemson Consulting Ltd., provides an update to the Municipality's 2014 Water and Wastewater Rate Study, in accordance with Ontario Regulation 453/07. The new rate study for 2022-2031 was conducted and found the following:

• Rates are calculated on full recovery of operating costs and capital needs with provision for future asset replacement.
• With substantial capital work required over the next ten years on all the systems, a two percent increase in utility rates is needed to cover capital and operating costs.
• In the short term, the Township will utilize water reserves for capital renewal and replacement.
• In the long term, wastewater reserves will increase yearly to cover capital costs outside the five-year period.
• Consumption is anticipated to remain constant over the following years, even with the projected growth.
• A review of the Water and Wastewater study is encouraged to be reviewed again in the next three to five years to ensure that sufficient revenues are generated to fund the projected expenses.

A bylaw will be presented to Council in early 2022 to adopt the recommendations set out in the Draft Water and Wastewater Rate Study report.

2022 Resident Parking Permit and Paid Parking Program

In 2021, the Township of Ramara introduced its Waterfront and Parking Strategy that focused on improvements to our waterfront access, beach and park locations to ensure that our public spaces are safe and enjoyable to use. This year, Committee passed to implement the same program for 2022 with the suggested amendments. The 2022 parking program will include the following:

• Similar to 2021, the Resident Parking program continues on all municipal roads and parking lots (Lagoon City Beach and Park, Bluebird Park and Lovely Day Park).
• Paid parking will continue at the three above municipal parking lot locations at a rate of $5/hour.
• Property owners are permitted to obtain (2) parking passes at no cost per property and may apply and obtain a third permit at the cost of $25.00.

Concession Road 9 Petition for Municipal Drain

Committee passed for R.J. Burnside & Associates Ltd., in accordance with Section 10(5) of the Drainage Act, to proceed directly to the preparation of the Final Report to create a municipal drain from the award drain for maintenance and drainage. The proceeding to a Final Report will allow the Engineers and the Township to engage with wildlife specialists and contractors to carry
out the required studies to control water levels with nuisance animal relocation better. The costs associated will be billed as per the Drains Assessment schedule upon completion of the drainage works.

Municipal Accommodation Tax

Committee passed to separate the report into two separate issues: Hotels and Resorts and Short Term Rental Accommodations. Implementing a Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) allows municipalities across Ontario to apply a mandatory rate on accommodations. The funds collected can then be reinvested in Tourism promotion and products. Committee approved to receive the report as information and bring back more information implementing a MAT on Short-Term Rental Accommodations.

Orillia Rama Regional Airport Road Allowance and Purchase Inquiry

Committee passed to agree to sell the road allowance, in principle, subject to the airport providing the following:

• a determination on whether the lands are located within a Natural Area Protection Zone;
• An Environmental Assessment is completed and satisfied by Council, and
• a public meeting with area residents is held to hear and satisfy the community's concerns.

10 Year Capital Forecast - Fire and Rescue and Infrastructure

Committee passed both the ten-year Fire and Rescue and ten-year Roads Capital Forecast. With the Fire and Rescue Service Capital Forecast, Committee passed for the Fire Chief to bring a report that would outline how many homes are within 8 km of a fire station to receive the Tanker Shuttle Certification. Residents and/or Businesses within this area may receive an insurance
discount.

2022 Final Budget

Committee passed the Final 2022 Budget with the suggested revisions presented at November 15, 2021 Committee of the Whole meeting. The Final Budget will not be ratified until the December 13th Council meeting. Residents can look at the budget and read the budget highlights at www.ramara.ca/budget. All questions and comments on the budget need to be sent in by Wednesday, December 8th, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. to zdrinkwalter@ramara.ca.

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